Why we’re poised for showdown with Dangote Refinery——-NUPENG
CHIGOZIE AMADI
Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has cited Aliko Dangote’s alleged capitalist monopolistic tendencies and unfair labour practices as reason for threatening industrial action against group.
In a statement made available to Daily Champion on Friday, signed by Comrades William Akporeha and Afolabi Olawale,President and General Secretary, respectively, the union condemned alleged unlawful and uncostitional anti-union practices of Alhaji Aliko Dangote and his cousin,Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata .
NUPENG also alleged that the Dangote Refinery was scheming to monopolise distribution, crush competition and raise prices, ultimately affecting ordinary Nigerians in the long run.
The union said it was disturbed by what it described as unconscionable bus iness practices of Alhaji Sayyu and Alhaji Aliyu Dantata who it alleged, were scared of allowing unions to exit in their business outfits .
“To us, amassing wealth on the basis of enslavement,depriving workers of a union and voice amounts creating filthy wealth.NUPENG will not stand idly by, while these billionaires seek to destroy the livelihood of thousands of workers, including tanker drivers”, the statement emphasized
The union rallied other industrial unions and the central labour organisations, the NLC, TUC and global Union Federations for peaceful mass actions and industrial actions in defending labour rights.
The union said it sought clarification from Dangote in the middle of year over his intent to import 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas trucks into the country and commence nationwide distribution of petroleum and diesel products free of logistics cost from 15th August 2025 to Petroleum Stations and Industrial set ups.
At the meeting of 23rd June 2025, Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata ,who met the union on the instruction of Dangote declared that he and the owner of Dangote Refinery had resolved to have monopolistic control, not only of crude oil refining, but also distribution of the products.
The statement quoted Dantata as saying that the planned importation of 10,000 CNG trucks is part of the plan for nationwide distribution.
It added that:”In a brutally cold and crude manner, Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata informed NUPENG and NARTO leaders that the truck drivers they will recruit will not be allowed to join any existing union, but a new union will be formed for them.
“Arising from the unfortunate outcome of the meeting, the leadership of the Union have made several efforts to get relevant institutions of the country to make Alhaji Aliko Dangote and his cousin, Alh Sayyu Ali Dantata to follow line of global best practices and decency but all to no avail.
“To our utmost shock, Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata’s MRS commenced the recruitment of drivers for the imported CNG Trucks on Friday, 29th August 2025. The drivers being recruited are being forced to sign an undertaking not to belong to any existing union in the oil and gas Industry.
“The recruitment being carried out on the condition of not joining existing union is the implementation of the position declared to us by Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata on 23rd of June 2025, when the leadership of NUPENG and NARTO had the meeting with Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata who represented himself and Alhaji Aliko Dangote.”
It added:”NUPENG stood in solidarity with Dangote Refinery during its construction and commissioning. We did so in good faith, in expectation it would create jobs, strengthen local capacity, and benefit the Nigerian people, under a conducive atmosphere for unions to thrive.
” Unfortunately, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has chosen to betray that trust by scheming to monopolise distribution, crush competition, and enslave the sector and raise prices, which would ultimately result in attack on the living standards of the masses of ordinary Nigerians.”
It insisted that there is definitely no fairness, no justice or inclusiveness in what Alh Aliko Dangote and his cousin are promoting contrary to the philosophy of transition to cleaner and sustainable energy which encourages fairness.
The union implored the Nigerian Midstream & Downstream Petroleum Authority (the Authority, for short) to invoke iis powers under Section 32(u) and (aa) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
“Under those two provisions, the Authority is empowered to promote competition and private sector participation in the midstream and downstream petroleum operations. The Authority has responsibility to identify, investigate and prevent abuse of dominant positions and restrictive business practices with regard to midstream and downstream petroleum operations.
“Nigeria is a member of the international community and a State member in the International Labour Organisation. Nigeria has ratified Convention No. 87 of 1948, the Convention on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, 1948. This Convention hadsbeen ratified by Nigeria, as far back as 17th October 1960. Under the Convention, workers have the right to join unions of their choice, for the protection of their employment and trade union rights, and without prior authorization of any employer or authority.
“Indeed, by virtue of section 254C (2) of the Constitution of Nigeria, a ratified ILO Convention is a constitutional provision. Therefore, any practice or policy by any employer which seeks to deprive workers of the right of association is an affront to the Constitution.
“Above all, the rights of association, including membership of trade unions, is guaranteed by Section 40 of the Constitution. Alhaji Aliko Dangote and his cousin Alhaji Sayyu Aliu Dantata should not be allowed to enslave Nigerian workers.
“They should be made to be lawful business persons and not lawless individuals and business outfits. Nigeria is a country of laws, not a lawless society.By Section 9(6) of the Labour Act, workers cannot be penalized for their membership or non-membership of trade unions”. It added.
PTD mocks NUPENG over empty threats to Dangote
The Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) has described the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) proposed Monday nationwide strike as laughable, blaming NUPENG leadership for its lack of coordination and wisdom to peacefully mitigate the cold war between the union and the management of Dangote refinery.
As part of efforts in preventing escalation, the tanker drivers called for immediate arrest of the leaders of NUPENG by law enforcement agents especially the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of DSS, as it bring to an abrupt end to the looming crisis.
They also advised petroleum tanker drivers across the four zones of the country to ignore the nationwide strike notice issued by NUPENG, which was scheduled to take effect on Monday, September 8, 2025.
The PTD leaders warned that such insensitive move by NUPENG will cripple the economic activities in the country, impoverish the masses and further cause them more pain, contrary to the sentiments whipped up by the union.
PTD also chided the parent body for unduly meddling in the progress and success of the country’s economic powerhouse, just as it described the leaders as economic saboteurs who have no interest of the country at heart but to continue in the old order of manipulating the system through illegal levies at depots, tank farms, and refineries that are never accounted for under the current leadership.
The tanker drivers also expressed worry over NUPENG’s inability to maintain a cohesive leadership structure, emphasizing that while the Union struggles with factional disputes, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and his business partner, Alhaji Sayyu Idris Dantata of MRS remained focused on revitalising the country’s petroleum industry downstream sector and delivering on President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
In their well detailed observations, PTD also mocked the double standards posture of NUPENG leaders, claiming that the Union was known for waging a vicious war against the Association of Distributors and Transporters of Petroleum Products (ADITOP) and preventing them to run side by side with them (NUPENG) in the petroleum industry ecosystem, saying the union lacks the moral rectitude to accuse Dangote and Dantata of championing monopoly in the petroleum industry.
PTD equally maintained that union membership anywhere in the world is voluntary and that the crisis arising from the plan by the Dangote refinery to import 4,000 compressed natural gas-powered trucks for the direct distribution of fuel to retailers is in good shape and in best interest of the masses.
The tanker drivers however advised the Federal government, the NSA, National Assembly, DSS, Inspector General of Police, NSCDC, and other industry stakeholders not to treat the matter with kid gloves so that NUPENG will not undermine the relative peace and progress the Oil and Gas sector is currently enjoying.
According to a statement by PTD stakeholders jointly signed by comrades (Alhaji) Tajudeen Abubakar (Kaduna Zone), Chief (Mrs.) Blessing Dafinone (Warri Zone), Comrade Joseph Dagogo-Jack (JP) (Port Harcourt Zone) and Comrade Kolade Fadahunsi-Ojelabi (Lagos Zone), which reads in parts:
“This is a clarion call to all Petroleum Tanker Drivers across Nigeria to please ignore the strike notice issued by NUPENG leadership. The purported notice suggested that the industrial action will take effect on Monday, September 8, 2025, this is obviously insensitive, callous, and unacceptable. How could NUPENG condescend so low like this that they didn’t even dim it necessary to explore any option of negotiation or stakeholders dialogue before arriving at this? This is not only laughable but wicked. A Union is expected to be socially responsible and not pursue selfish gains capable of ruining the socio-economic accomplishments of the country.
“It is no news that the leadership of NUPENG lacks operational and administrative understanding of how the industry works, but we would be glad to educate them that union membership anywhere in the world is voluntary and that the crisis arising from the plan by the Dangote refinery to import 4,000 compressed natural gas-powered trucks for the direct distribution of fuel to retailers is in good shape and in best interest of the masses. Negotiations and symbiotic relationship cannot be reached through violence, threats or arrogance, Nigeria is governed under constitutional democracy, these union leaders should note that very carefully.
“This is the same NUPENG that has created protracted internal crisis within its rank that is calling Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Alhaji Sayyu Idris Dantata names, infact these businessmen should sue them for libel and defamation. This also show lack of decorum, and rascally behaviour of today’s leaders in NUPENG, they don’t think or make legal consultations before acting on highlighted highly sensitive matters and situations.
“It is also illogical and unreasonable for NUPENG to accuse Dangote and Dantata of promoting monopoly in the industry while they, in their double standards have been at loggerheads with the Association of Distributors and Transporters of Petroleum Products (ADITOP) and preventing them from running their affairs side by side with them in the petroleum industry ecosystem. This is crass irresponsibility from a union that lacks integrity.
“Can any sane human being call NUPENG President Williams Akporeha, General Secretary Afolabi Olawale, and the National Trustee Otunba Salimon Akanni Oladiti Saints? Under their watch the once respected union is now a shadow of its former self. These individuals further put themselves into an imperceptible ridicule and shame by saying Dangote is involved in anti-union activities. They should have gone ahead to issue suspensions to Dangote Refinery and MRS as they did to Comrade Lucky Osesua and his supporters, and most recently to Comrade Alex Agwanwor and others too.
“These set of NUPENG leaders have used the instruments of their offices to unlawfully bully, intimidate, victimize and harass both members and staff of the union in all the four zones in Nigeria to an extremely high and embarrassing level, to the extent that in the eyes of the public, NUPENG is now being subjected to shame, total disgrace, and has become a laughing stock to the rest of the world especially the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Industrial Courts, ILO, IndustriALL and so on.
“Afolabi and Akporeha’s consistent mistreatment of staff and members across the zones have regrettably led to significant psychological distress for the targeted individuals. It’s a heartbreaking reality, but many people feel conquered, helpless, and powerless when confronted with these abnormalities in the union. What a shame! while NUPENG struggles with factional disputes at different branches and at the centre, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and his business partner, Alhaji Sayyu Idris Dantata of MRS are firmly focused and revitalising the country’s petroleum industry downstream sector and delivering on President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“We understand that NUPENG unionised petrol station workers known with the acronym, PSW, meanwhile the tank farm owners pay them heavily at the point of ship discharging products; what is the value added to members from these monies collected especially from the PTD Branch? None! They sit in offices, collect dues and levies in billions, without looking after drivers on wheels. Many of the tanker drivers receive less than 50k in a month as salaries, and in some worse situations, they are still being owed their monthly salaries. When it is time to go for local and international training and seminars, it is the National executives who are in the comfort of their air-conditioned offices that will attend, they consistently deny the main drivers the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills necessary to safely operate the tankers within the framework of minimum safety standards.
“PTD under the current leadership of NUPENG, has failed serially to support the clamping down on criminal elements who had developed a penchant for illegal oil bunkering and other unlawful activities that promote economic sabotage in the country. Similarly, they lack the capacity and wisdom to put necessary measures in place to curb products shortage and stealing, which have ruined businesses of many Petroleum marketers. Tanker drivers have suffered incessant harassment and bullying of its members from several state and non-state actors, NUPENG cannot find any solution to these and many other burning issues. They have also failed to foster industrial peace and harmony. All these make us laugh when we now see Afolabi and Williams calling hard working and law-abiding Nigerians like Dangote and Dantata unprintable names. We sincerely advice Dangote and Dantata to sue NUPENG for libel or defamation.
“It is really heartbreaking to see that NUPENG has recorded the highest number of lawsuits, with an average of 50 cases, many of which were filed by former staff, expelled, or suspended members of the union. Infact the judiciary is even tired of their approach to many of the cases and worst still the union has been reprimanded several times and slammed with contempt charges, fines and retribution.
“NUPENG in their statement claimed they will mobilize forces, which forces are they going to mobilize? Their stooges and surrogates? The forces they could have mobilized are the ones they unlawfully pushed aside and thought they could do without. In reality the likes of Comrades Lucky Etuokwu, Lucky Osesua, Dayyabu Garga; Peter Muodobelu, Humble Obinna Power; Akinolu Olabisi; Godwin Nwaka; Tiamiu Sikiru Ojo; Abdulmumuni Shaibu, Sylvanus Idanwekhai, Sunday Ezeocha, Osamuyi Osahon, and others remain the best hands that can shape the future of PTD & NUPENG and sustain industrial harmony amongst industry stakeholders for the greater good of Nigeria, socio-economically.
“Honestly Dangote and Sayyu should be commended by Nigerians for providing jobs and breaking the long existing monopoly in the Nigeria’s petroleum industry value chain and for the courage of giving drivers on wheels their place of pride and bringing dignity to the industry.
“We therefore use this rare opportunity to humbly advise the Federal government, NSA, National Assembly, DSS, Inspector General of Police, NSCDC, and other industry stakeholders to call for the immediate arrest of leaders of NUPENG especially the President and the General in order to prevent them from setting the country on fire at a time Nigeria is experiencing relative peace in the oil and gas sector. Enough of NUPENG highhandedness, no union is bigger than the extant laws and constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. NUPENG has failed its members and should never be allowed to destroy Nigeria and its economic activities”, the statement emphasized.
